Meet food safety requirements for your business
- 21 steps
UK Act of Parliament
1990
United Kingdom
Food Safety Act 1990
At a glance
Enforced by
Local Authority, FSA, Food Standards Scotland, Trading Standards, DWI, DEFRA
What's here
20 compliance obligations, 46 practical guides across 2 topics · 25 journeys · 69 statutory instruments
Penalty landscape
16 of 20 obligations carry up to 2 years imprisonment. 2 carry different penalties and 2 have no criminal penalty — flagged in the list below.
Who this Act binds
Business-side actors with duties under this Act, ranked by how often they appear.
- Any Person 17
- Director or Officer 1
Plus 2 non-business duties on Crown ministers, regulators, local authorities or tribunals — shown collapsed under each section below.
Step-by-step journeys using this legislation
Walkthroughs that take you from a real business situation to compliance.
Respond to a food safety incident
- 5 steps
- 3 requirements
Start a restaurant
- 1 step
Start a food business for the first time
- 11 steps
Food safety quick compliance check
- 8 steps
Improve your food hygiene rating
- 7 steps
Relevant guidance
Practical guides for businesses affected by this Act, ordered by how closely they engage with it.
Direct — cites this Act
21 guidesAllergen control systems and Natasha's Law
Brewery licensing and compliance
Food Hygiene Rating Scheme
Food Information Regulations 2014 compliance
Food Safety for Childcare Providers
Food and drink business licensing and compliance
Food and drink regulations and traceability
Food business support and grants in Wales
Supporting — topic alignment
8 guidesMentioned in related content
17 guides- Alcohol licensing requirements
- Allergen information requirements
- Approvals and registrations you need before trading
- Business licences by activity type
- Comply with mandatory food hygiene rating display in Wales
- Control food temperatures safely
- Food safety training for your staff
- Get approved food establishment status in Wales
- Get licences from your local council
- Holiday let food hygiene, employment and insurance
Other Acts binding the same actors
For each actor bound by this Act, the other UK Acts that bind them most often. Useful for understanding the full compliance landscape facing each role.
Any Person also bound by 2338 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- Human Medicines Regulations 2012 2012 169 duties
- Merchant Shipping Act 1995 1995 144 duties
- Insolvency (England and Wales) Rules 2016 2016 101 duties
- Road Traffic Act 1988 1988 95 duties
- Air Navigation Order 2016 2016 95 duties
Directors and Officers also bound by 425 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- Insolvency (England and Wales) Rules 2016 2016 161 duties
- Companies Act 2006 2006 108 duties
- Insolvency Act 1986 1986 72 duties
- The Large and Medium-sized Companies and Groups (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 2008 55 duties
- The Housing Administration (England and Wales) Rules 2018 2018 26 duties
What this Act requires
Sections that create concrete duties on businesses or carry penalties. Procedural and definitional sections are folded into the “Browse other sections” expander at the bottom of each group. Click any section title to read the source text on legislation.gov.uk.
Part I — PRELIMINARY
Enforcement of Act.
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Local authorities and the FSA must enforce food safety laws Local authority
Browse 5 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Part II — MAIN PROVISIONS
Rendering food injurious to health.
2 years imprisonment- Render food injurious to health Any Person
Inspection and seizure of suspected food.
2 years imprisonment- Knowingly breach a food‑safety notice Any Person
Improvement notices.
2 years imprisonment- Fail to comply with an improvement notice Any Person
Prohibition orders.
2 years imprisonment- Knowingly contravene a food prohibition order Any Person
Emergency prohibition notices and orders.
2 years imprisonment- Knowingly breach an emergency prohibition notice or order Any Person
Emergency control orders.
2 years imprisonment- Contravene emergency control order or ignore direction Any Person
Selling food not of the nature or substance or quality demanded.
2 years imprisonment- Sell food not matching the nature, substance or quality demanded Any Person
Falsely describing or presenting food.
2 years imprisonment- Falsely describe or present food Any Person
Contravention of food information law: seizure of food etc.
Fine up to £2,500- Knowingly breach a food‑information notice Any Person
Duty to report non-compliance with food information law
2 years imprisonment- Fail to report food information law breaches to authorities Any Person
Power to obtain information
2 years imprisonment- Fail to provide information to Food Standards Scotland Any Person
Offences due to fault of another person.
2 years imprisonment- Cause another person to commit a food safety offence Any Person
Browse 12 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Selling food not complying with food safety requirements.
Meaning of “food information” etc.
Food safety and consumer protection.
Enforcement of EU provisions.
Special provisions for particular foods etc.
Registration and licensing of food premises.
Defence of due diligence.
Defence of publication in the course of business.
Provision of food hygiene training.
Provision of facilities for cleansing shellfish.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..
Regulations and orders: supplementary provisions.
Part III — ADMINISTRATION AND ENFORCEMENT
Appointment of public analysts.
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Local authorities must appoint qualified public analysts Local authority
Powers of entry.
2 years imprisonment- Disclose trade secrets obtained during inspection Any Person
Obstruction etc. of officers.
three months imprisonment- Obstruct food‑safety officers or give false information Any Person
Punishment of offences.
2 years imprisonment- Serious food safety breaches and obstruction Any Person
Offences by bodies corporate.
2 years imprisonment- Corporate liability for food safety offences Director or Officer
Offences by Scottish partnerships.
2 years imprisonment- Partner liable for partnership food‑safety offence Any Person
Browse 8 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Provision of facilities for examinations.
Procurement of samples.
Analysis etc. of samples.
Regulation of sampling and analysis etc.
Time limit for prosecutions.
Appeals to magistrates’ court or sheriff.
Appeals to Crown Court.
Appeals against improvement notices.
Part IV — MISCELLANEOUS AND SUPPLEMENTAL
Browse 21 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Power to issue codes of practice.
Power to require returns.
Default powers.
Continuance of registration or licence on death.
Protection of officers acting in good faith.
Regulations as to charges.
Expenses of authorised officers and county councils.
Remuneration of tribunal chairmen.
Regulations and orders.
Form and authentication of documents.
Service of documents.
Contamination of food: emergency orders.
Markets, sugar beet and cold storage.
General interpretation.
Application to Crown.
Water supply: England and Wales.
Water supply: Scotland.
Scilly Isles and Channel Islands.
Territorial waters and the continental shelf.
Amendments, transitional provisions, savings and repeals.
Short title, commencement and extent.
Schedules
Amendments of Parts III and V of 1984 Act
2 years imprisonment- Disclose confidential beet information without consent Any Person
Browse 73 other Schedules — structural / supplementary
Provisions of Regulations under Section 16(1)
Minor and Consequential Amendments
Transitional Provisions and Savings
Provision for prohibiting or regulating— (a) the sale, possession for...
(1) Provision for prohibiting— (a) the sale for human consumption;...
(1) Provision for regulating generally the treatment and disposal of...
Provision for the following, namely— (a) for the giving by...
(1) Provision for imposing requirements as to—
(1) Provision for imposing responsibility for compliance with any requirements...
Provision for prohibiting or regulating— (a) the possession, sale or...
(1) Provision for securing the inspection of food sources by...
(1) Provision for the following in connection with a food...
Part III of the 1984 Act (markets) shall be amended...
In section 60 (market byelaws), after paragraph (c) there shall...
In section 61 (interpretation of Part III), the words from...
Part V of the 1984 Act (sugar beet and cold...
(1) In subsections (1) and (2) of section 68 (research...
In subsection (3) of section 69 (crop price), for the...
After that section there shall be inserted the following section—...
Section 70 (provision of cold storage) shall cease to have...
(1) In subsection (1) of section 50 (establishment or acquisition...
In section 51(2) (power to sell to local authority), the...
(1) In subsection (1) of section 53 (charges by market...
For subsection (2) of section 54 (time for payment of...
In section 56(1) (prohibited sales in market hours), for the...
In section 57 (weighing machines and scales), subsection (1) shall...
After that section there shall be inserted the following section—...
Section 58 (weighing of articles) shall cease to have effect....
An order made by the Secretary of State under section...
After section 115 of that Act there shall be inserted...
In section 132(1) of that Act (interpretation), the definition of...
In paragraph 1(2) of Schedule 3 to that Act (sampling)...
In Schedule 16 to the Transport Act 1968 (supplementary and...
(1) In subsection (1) of section 4 of the Agriculture...
In section 8(4)(a) of the Poisons Act 1972 (evidence of...
In section 259(3) of the Local Government Act 1972 (compensation...
In the following provisions of the Slaughterhouses Act 1974, namely—...
In section 23(4) of the Licensing (Scotland) Act 1976 (application...
Section 54(1) of the London Government Act 1963 (food, drugs,...
(1) In subsection (1) of section 12 of the Weights...
In Schedule 6 to that Act (temporary requirements imposed by...
In Schedule 5 to the Hydrocarbon Oil Duties Act 1979...
In section 19(2) of the Slaughter of Animals (Scotland) Act...
In section 22 of that Act (interpretation)—
In section 39 of the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982...
In section 3(2) of the Public Health (Control of Disease)...
In section 7(3) of that Act (London port health authority),...
(1) In subsection (1) of section 20 of that Act...
In section 24(1) of the Food and Environment Protection Act...
In section 7(3) of the Agriculture Act 1967 (labelling of...
In section 25 of that Act (Northern Ireland) after subsection...
In paragraph 15 of Schedule 8 to the Local Government...
In section 38 of the Weights and Measures Act 1985...
In section 93 of that Act (powers under other Acts...
In section 94(1) of that Act (interpretation), in the definition...
In section 1(6) of the Agriculture Act 1986 (provision of...
(1) In subsection (2) of section 1 of the National...
In section 19(1) of the Consumer Protection Act 1987 (interpretation...
In section 16(7) of the Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988...
(1) In subsection (2) of section 25 of that Act...
In section 4 of the Farm and Garden Chemicals Act...
In section 2(5)(a) of the Trade Descriptions Act 1968 (certain...
In section 22 of that Act (admissibility of evidence in...
In section 108 of the Medicines Act 1968 (enforcement in...
In section 109 of that Act (enforcement in Scotland)—
In relation to any time before the commencement of the...
(1) In so far as any existing regulations made, or...
Any existing regulations made, or having effect as if made,...
In so far as any existing regulations made under section...
the Milk and Dairies (Scotland) Act 1914 (orders with respect...
The repeal by this Act of section 14 of the...
The repeal by this Act of section 21 of the...
Repeals
Official guidance
Authoritative sources published by regulators or government explaining this legislation.
- Precision bred organisms: application guidance - GOV.UK (opens in a new tab) from FSA Detailed Guidance
- Register of CAP Code changes - ASA | CAP (opens in a new tab) from ASA Detailed Guidance
- Register of BCAP Code changes - ASA | CAP (opens in a new tab) from ASA Detailed Guidance
- Case study 6 – Inappropriate use of a private supply by a food business can give rise to substantive economic, reputational and regulatory costs - Drinking Water Inspectorate (opens in a new tab) from DWI Detailed Guidance
- Starting a food business checklist | Food Standards Scotland (opens in a new tab) from Food Standards Scotland Detailed Guidance
- Water use practices | Food Standards Scotland (opens in a new tab) from Food Standards Scotland Detailed Guidance
- Food Law Code of Practice 2019 | Food Standards Scotland (opens in a new tab) from Food Standards Scotland Code of Practice
- UK protected food names (opens in a new tab) from DEFRA Detailed Guidance
- Hybu Cig Cymru (Meat Promotion Wales) (opens in a new tab) Detailed Guidance
- Farming Connect (opens in a new tab) Detailed Guidance
- ... and 40 more
Enforcement and responsible bodies
The regulators that administer or enforce this legislation.
Local Authority
PrimaryLocal Authority (Environmental Health / Licensing / Planning)
Local councils enforce food safety (via Environmental Health Officers), issue alcohol licences, grant planning permission, and regulate certain business activities at local …
Food Standards Agency
Food safety and hygiene regulation across England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Enforces food law, provides guidance to food businesses, investigates incidents. Approves …
Food safety and standards in Scotland. Independent public body with similar remit to FSA but for Scotland specifically. Administers Food Hygiene Information …
Trading Standards (Local Authority)
Enforces consumer protection legislation including food labelling, weights and measures, product safety, and fair trading. Part of local authority structure. Investigates food …
Drinking Water Inspectorate
Regulates drinking water quality in England and Wales. Audits water companies, investigates water quality incidents, and approves products and substances used in …
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Government department responsible for environmental protection, food production and standards, agriculture, fisheries, and rural communities. Sets environmental policy and works with agencies …
Connected legislation
69 statutory instruments
These instruments amend, apply, or refer to this Act. They may not all create direct business obligations.
Secondary legislation (69)
- Food Information (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2019 2019
- Food Information Regulations 2014 2014
- The Addition of Vitamins, Minerals and Other Substances (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2010 2010
- The Addition of Vitamins, Minerals and Other Substances (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2020 2020
- The Addition of Vitamins, Minerals and Other Substances (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2010 2010
- The Addition of Vitamins, Minerals and Other Substances (Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2010 2010
- The Addition of Vitamins, Minerals and Other Substances (Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2020 2020
- The Animal Feed (England) Regulations 2010 2010
- The Fish Labelling (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2006 2006
- The Fish Labelling (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2015 2015
- The Fish Labelling (Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2006 2006
- The Food Additives (England) (Amendment) and the Extraction Solvents in Food (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2012 2012
- The Food Enzymes (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2010 2010
- The Food for Specific Groups (Food for Special Medical Purposes for Infants, Infant Formula and Follow-on Formula) (Information and Compositional Requirements) (Amendment ) (England) Regulations 2020 2020
- The Food Hygiene (Wales) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2012 2012
+ 54 more statutory instruments
Explore more
Browse legislation
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Regulators
Learn more about the bodies that enforce this legislation.